My tree friends are cold
Winter's arriving early in New York's Hudson Valley. It's snowing big, fat flakes. They're not sticking to the ground, but they look thick and hefty. Their arrival is obviously a surprise, both to me, as well as to my friends Miss Goldie and Mister Orange.
I love autumn, with its cooler temperatures and the changing colors of the leaves. These unique colors are what makes my part of the state an attraction for nature lovers and tourists. The latter are mostly out-of-towners who'd drive their cars up and down our many rural roads to observe nature's beauty.
But my poor friends! They're outside in the cold, standing staunchly against a bombardment of fresh snow. I know they must be used to having to endure the elements by now. They've already been doing it for several hundred years.
Yet, it was Miss Goldie's radiant beauty which first caught my attention. Her elegant golden-yellow leaves, glistening under an autumn sun, left me transfixed. When a few days later, maybe as a warning for me to stay away from Miss Goldie, an apparently jealous Mister Orange, somehow managed to turn all his leaves from green into an intense and intimidating orange. Is he a magician? He changed colors almost overnight.
Well, he needn't worry. While I enjoy looking at Miss Goldie's adorable leaves, it was never my intention to chop her down and run off with her. Miss Goldie, I know, is fine just where she is. As for Mister Orange, once he realized I wasn't competing with him for Miss Goldie's attention, he and I have since become friends.
Sadly, however, as time marches on, the colors of Miss Goldie's and Mister Oranges' leaves have begun to fade. Their shiny, eye-catching brightness isn't what it was the week before. A sign that their season of life is coming to a close. A long winter's sleep lies ahead. First, their leaves will begin to fall one by one until none are left on their branches. Then comes hibernation. Barren, leafless branches will be all that remains until spring, when life for the tree world begins anew.
My only chance to check up on them won't be until tomorrow afternoon, when I can go to the recreation yard. I'm sure they're okay. But it's sad to see their pretty leaves slowly die. However, come spring, Miss Goldie and Mister Orange will be back. I'll be waiting for them.
D.B.
I love autumn, with its cooler temperatures and the changing colors of the leaves. These unique colors are what makes my part of the state an attraction for nature lovers and tourists. The latter are mostly out-of-towners who'd drive their cars up and down our many rural roads to observe nature's beauty.
But my poor friends! They're outside in the cold, standing staunchly against a bombardment of fresh snow. I know they must be used to having to endure the elements by now. They've already been doing it for several hundred years.
Yet, it was Miss Goldie's radiant beauty which first caught my attention. Her elegant golden-yellow leaves, glistening under an autumn sun, left me transfixed. When a few days later, maybe as a warning for me to stay away from Miss Goldie, an apparently jealous Mister Orange, somehow managed to turn all his leaves from green into an intense and intimidating orange. Is he a magician? He changed colors almost overnight.
Well, he needn't worry. While I enjoy looking at Miss Goldie's adorable leaves, it was never my intention to chop her down and run off with her. Miss Goldie, I know, is fine just where she is. As for Mister Orange, once he realized I wasn't competing with him for Miss Goldie's attention, he and I have since become friends.
Sadly, however, as time marches on, the colors of Miss Goldie's and Mister Oranges' leaves have begun to fade. Their shiny, eye-catching brightness isn't what it was the week before. A sign that their season of life is coming to a close. A long winter's sleep lies ahead. First, their leaves will begin to fall one by one until none are left on their branches. Then comes hibernation. Barren, leafless branches will be all that remains until spring, when life for the tree world begins anew.
My only chance to check up on them won't be until tomorrow afternoon, when I can go to the recreation yard. I'm sure they're okay. But it's sad to see their pretty leaves slowly die. However, come spring, Miss Goldie and Mister Orange will be back. I'll be waiting for them.
D.B.
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